“For his age he’s probably the best 13-year-old I’ve ever seen – apart from Eric. He is very good.

“If anybody is going to challenge Eric’s record of being the youngest world champion – at 22 – then it’s this lad. He could do it.”

Bristow held the title of the youngest world darts champ for 26 years until the honour was passed to then 21-year-old Dutchman Jelle Klaasen. But prodigious Bennett will fancy his chances of rewriting history.

For his age he’s probably the best 13-year-old I’ve ever seen – apart from Eric. He is very good.

Phil Taylor on Leighton Bennett

Taylor said: “My advice is to stay the same, stay exactly the way you are.

“Keep your feet on the ground. If he earns any money put it in the bank, forget about it, enjoy it when you are older.

“The best thing about him is that he has his parents around him as well, who will keep him grounded and level-headed.

“It’d be easy to get up in the morning and think: ‘I won’t practice today, I’m a champion.’ But I think he’s one who gets up and does his practice in the morning, does his schoolwork, does everything right.

“Those who knock him for celebrating like he does are the ones who haven’t won anything.”

Bennett, who receives sponsorship from SAP, has won five JDC events this year and banked almost £10,000 in prize money. He said: “It was awesome to play Phil. I took seven legs off a 16-time world champion! I don’t even mind losing.”